Help with network crimping tool and tips

[acarney]

Just bought a new house. I asked the builder if they could run network cable to a few locations where I could mount some Ubiquiti devices, a couple POEA cameras and a POE access point. Looking at the junction boxes they left me plenty of CAT6 cable but the ends aren’t terminated. On the other end they terminate into individual keystones in a mechanical room that has my low voltage network connections.
 

I'm asking for recommendations on the best crimping tool that is as easy to use as possible, and connectors. I mainly need it for CAT6, but I have a few CAT5e lines as well.   
 

I’m not completely new, but also not great at this, so if there are any good guides you would recommend, I would love that too! Years ago I did one CAT6 wire and struggled a lot, it took like half an hour and I had to try like four times and the connector was still sort of wonky and loose… but I was using like a $6 tool…

[NikolakiH]

I also bought a cheap tool for my first time crimping a cable and maybe one out of ten would turn out. I was wondering what I was doing wrong, but eventually I figured out it was just my crappy tool. I bought one from Klein tools; pretty much every cable has turned out since I got it.

 

This one specifically: https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-VDV226-005-Pass-Thru-Pass-Thu/dp/B07R3GK9FQ/ref=sr_1_9?crid=16YYXOUF4HLRE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gT8cdCb5SmHYiK5Mbd8hh21vt1UycaW_paDrFcwh4SXwBZrYqI0U1ZkYGb56EijUMlZynFP5No2CVElr0EGXT-S3F-jjb5FNqQvlnVZb8d1FWJJXR-TGagtcSSVSxdt4jNXkrIxU9bv_WIG9FhDAPFaRmY9v5bZxbwuhFueuZrWq11hRSCOPqC7ccj7NCDPPh43b0D2EiFsuU2asvCeYOfaQEZ_1ghKME1s4BLhc3DbBHJoJjoMvnQlaYa4P64beYVi9f3LobkfpgScWjqgtMW8gqag7Ia8xhjqFyGyd1qY.-MG3PNIORQo2TB-PP2kCEtrlRIV7rcU7UMH2hglPymY&dib_tag=se&qid=1708723491&sprefix=klein+ethernet+crimper,aps,94&th=1

 

This one is for pass-through heads; if you aren't using pass-through they also make traditional and ratcheting ones.

[NobleGamer]

32 minutes ago, acarney said:

Looking at the junction boxes they left me plenty of CAT6 cable but the ends aren’t terminated. On the other end they terminate into individual keystones in a mechanical room that has my low voltage network connections.
 

I'm asking for recommendations on the best crimping tool that is as easy to use as possible, and connectors. I mainly need it for CAT6, but I have a few CAT5e lines as well.   
 

I’m not completely new, but also not great at this, so if there are any good guides you would recommend, I would love that too! Years ago I did one CAT6 wire and struggled a lot, it took like half an hour and I had to try like four times and the connector was still sort of wonky and loose… but I was using like a $6 tool…

If you are looking to terminate the un-terminated ends and you aren't going to terminate them into keystone jacks, then this is the connector crimping tool & kit I've personally used for RJ11 and RJ45 connectors: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072JW27Q1/

 

It comes with a nice simple punchdown+wirestripping tool as well.  I don't use the kit's RJ45 connectors because the wires have to fit in the precise holes with no real physical guides.

 

The same manufacturer has a variant that supports pass through connectors as well.  Not sure if pass through costs more than non-pass through or other connector types, and if there are any downsides to pass through.

 

If you don't get RJ45 connectors with pass thru, then there was some brand that I can't find at the moment that would come with a plastic bracket that helps separate some of the wires from each other, and it makes slipping the wires into the connector much easier.

 

The connector packs from stores usually have a diagram of the common wiring specs such as T568A and T568B.  Doesn't matter which one you use as long as you only use one of those standards consistently on both ends of a cable.

[mariushm]

There's wall sockets that accept keystone jacks.  These keystone jacks can either be the kind where you have to use a punchdown tool to lock the wires in place, or there's keystone jacks that basically accept a regular ethernet plug.

 

Faceplates example (10 pack of just faceplate, no keystone connectors) : https://www.amazon.com/Listed-VCE-Keystone-Modular-Inserts/dp/B07JFWRSTY/

 

Would be better to buy them from a proper store that deals with networking, example of FS.com :  https://www.fs.com/products/20245.html?attribute=15291&id=257065

 

Keystone jacks  - example that doesn't need punch down tool, there's a lever you press to lock wires in place :  https://www.amazon.com/ZOERAX-Tool-Less-Keystone-Punch-Down-Required/dp/B0CLV27V79/

 

Keystone jacks / couplers - have ethernet socket on them, so your cable would need a plug : https://www.amazon.com/VCE-Listed-5-Pack-Keystone-Coupler-White/dp/B0116T7XMQ/

 

On FS.com : https://www.fs.com/products/118905.html

 

keystone jacks that need punch down tool :  https://www.amazon.com/10-Pack-Cat6-Keystone-Jack-Compatible/dp/B07JRD69V6/

 

Example of punch down tool :  https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Punch-Down-Blade/dp/B0072K1QHM/

 

 

 

For plugs, Any crimping tool that presses down on the pins directly, and not an an angle (like pliers for example)

 

Example

 

This style is OK : https://www.amazon.com/Pass-Thru-Reliable-Klein-Tools-VDV226-110/dp/B076MGPQZQ/

 

The piece that presses down on the pins inside the connector is straight, guided by a channel, when you squeeze the lever.

 

This design is also OK : https://www.amazon.com/Gaobige-Crimping-Connectors-Connector-Stripper/dp/B08CT35Z1W/

It's a tool like pliers, but again, when you squeeze it, there's a metal piece in the middle that's pushed up equally from both sides.

 

 

These designs are bad :

 

https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Crimping-Connectors-Network-Stripper/dp/B08DHJBLXQ/

https://www.amazon.com/Crimping-Ethernet-Crimper-Connectors-Stripper/dp/B0BW5HM7P4/

The piece that presses the pins in the ethernet connector is fixed on one of the levers so when you squeeze, the metal piece comes at an angle and pressed the pins, so one side of the ethernet jack receives more pressure and it's possible for the contacts inside the ethernet jack to be actually bent or pressed with uneven pressure.

 

You should be aware that there's ethernet jacks "optimized" for solid core wire ethernet cable, and there's ethernet jacks optimized for stranded ethernet cable (where each wire in the cable is made out of a bunch of thin strands of copper)  and there's ethernet jacks that are "universal" meaning they can handle both types of cable.

 

Inside walls and in places where you don't bend often the cable, it's normal to use solid core wire ethernet cable.

[acarney]

I just realized that I need to know the wiring order from all the keystones… is this usually pretty standard in the pin out like just one or two ways? Or would a tester like this https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/cable-testers/lan-scout-jr-2-cable-tester be able to tell me? 
 

I would rather not pull off the wall plate that has 8+ cables behind it and disconnect them from the keystones or try to write down the color order…

[mariushm]

There's only 2 ways to arrange the wires. see https://incentre.net/ethernet-cable-color-coding-diagram/ 

 

 

Either version works, as long as both ends have the same order. You'll want to look on the other end of the cable to see what order of wires the installer chose (and if it's not one of these two, cut the plug or keystone and install new)

 

If I'm no mistaken B version is more popular, because due to the ways the pairs are twisted inside the cable it's easier for machines to untwist the wires and automatically install plugs. So that's what's used in most premade patch cables.

 

On a keystone that requires a punch down tool or manual insertion of wires there will be a sticker or something printed on it to tell you the order of wires for example

 

 

As you can see the stickers list both A and B wire orders.